GAAIGAD PROJECT
BPC, Nigeria today 25th May, 2017 received more than 300 books on gender, environment and development donated by Mrs. Grace Aniefon Akpabio. Receiving the books on behalf of BPC, Mrs Idorenyin Gideon (Director of Projects/Gender Initiative) at the BPC, Nigeria Head office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the magnanimity shown by Mrs. Akpabio while lauding her passion for gender issues and being willing to bridge the existing knowledge gap amongst the populace as regards gender issues.
She assured the donor of effective utilization of the resource materials reiterating the immense contribution of the “gesture into boosting a programme on mainstreaming gender issues into conservation which hitherto was not very active” in BPC. She solicited for more support from Mrs. Akpabio especially in her area of expertise and also called for more support from other spirited individuals and organizations.
The Director of Administration, Mr. Pius W. Owoh also expressed immeasurable feelings of joy and deep appreciation” for such a noble gesture by the donor while highlighting the activities of BPC, Nigeria since its inception. He however requested for more collaboration from donors in the future as BPC expands its frontiers.
In his response, the representative of the donor, Dr. Aniefon Akpabio thanked BPC for accepting the donation with enthusiasm even in the absence of the donor on whose behalf he conveyed her sincere apologies as she was away on official assignment in Abia State. He said as those with a background in botany and conservation, they (Dr. and Mrs. Akpabio) were particularly glad to identify with BPC and promised to do more to advance the cause of conservation in Nigeria. The CEO, Dr. Edem Eniang who was obviously very elated appreciated the excellent show of benevolence by the selfless donation of books and materials on gender, environment and development by Mrs. Grace Aniefon Akpabio to BPC. In response to such benevolence, the CEO officially inaugurated the establishment and commencement of the Grace Aniefon Akpabio Initiative for Gender and Development (GAAIGAD). He prayed that “GAAIGAD will go a long way to foster capacity development in Gender, Biodiversity Conservation, Environment and Development in Nigeria”.